19 years ago when the trees were planted here we watched as a tiny unknown tree was planted off to a corner of the house. We watered it consistently that first year and it survived the warm weather planting. It grew the next year and the next year. We identified it as a linden. We enjoyed it’s growing canopy. And we paid to have landscaping put around it because the lawn maintenance provider was cutting into the base each week with their trimmers.
That linden is so healthy. It provides wonderful shade. One day last summer our son and daughter-in-law stopped by unexpectedly with our baby grandson. I was covered in sweat from gardening. They didn’t care. We sat down under the linden’s shade and they asked if I wanted to hold him. Of course I did! Later my daughter in law sent me a picture – Gramma in her element, holding her first Grandbaby, all sweaty from gardening, sitting under the linden. A glorious, unexpected blessing!
Once again, that linden has outgrown it’s digs. It needs the landscape fabric and rock pulled back again, as I do every year. It’s base looks strong – a lot like the thousands of trees up north that have seen decades of wind and ice and snow piled high, and also drought. It deserves to have the continual protection from the landscape trimmers, but this year I am tempted to pull a lot of the rock, put that rock in sparcely rocked places throughout the garden, and put mulch in that area by the linden.
Wait! Didn’t I say we weren’t doing any improvements this year? Sit tight oh garden nurturer. I will try. Honestly I will.
Susan's Daily Garden 